Our Sins vs Our Rosary

I would like to share this video with you regarding the importance of praying the rosary. Based from my experience lately, it has given me hope during times that I was feeling low and it also made me closer in reflecting on the events of Jesus Christ and of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

I hope you pray the rosary too. It will help you a lot.

Do It Anyway by Mother Theresa

I got this from an email the other day and I want to share this to you.

The Secret

I would like to share to you a picture from my friend in Facebook.

Prayer Before Exams

I would like to share to you a prayer which my girlfriend Lisette shared to me as I take my first certification exam today. I hope that you can use this too whenever you take your exams.

Lord Jesus, today I will have my examinations
You know how important they are to me
so I am humbly asking your gracious help and divine assistance
I pray to you, dear Jesus, please never let me panic nor get nervous
Just let me be at ease and give my very best.
Please never let me guess nor rely on pure luck
but enlighten my mind and let me think clearly.
Please never let me resort to chances nor to dishonesty
but let me work to the fullest of my ability
I ask for your guidance that as I think,
I may find the right solutions,
I may be able to correctly answer the questions,
I may solve those difficult problems.
I ask you Lord for intercession that as I write,
I may not be careless, nor overconfident
I may not be distracted but be more concentrated,
I may not be in a hurry nor take the exams to lightly.
Today, oh my Jesus, I will take my examinations.
Let me, with your help, give my best effort.
Let me, because of you, receive the best and fruitful results.
Amen.

Catholic Church in the US

Here's an email which I got from my Dad. I would like to share this to you.

Excerpts of an article written by non-Catholic Sam Miller - a prominent Cleveland Jewish businessman:

"Why would newspapers carry on a vendetta on one of the most important institutions that we have today in the United States , namely the Catholic Church?

Do you know - the Catholic Church educates 2.6 million students everyday at the cost to that Church of 10 billion dollars, and a savings on the other hand to the American taxpayer of 18 billion  dollars. The graduates go on to graduate studies at the rate of 92%.

The Church has 230 colleges and universities in the U.S. with an enrollment of 700,000 students.

The Catholic Church has a non-profit hospital system of 637 hospitals, which account for hospital treatment of 1 out of every 5 people - not just Catholics - in the United States today.

But the press is vindictive and trying to totally denigrate in every way the Catholic Church in this country.

They have blamed the disease of pedophilia on the Catholic Church, which is as irresponsible as blaming adultery on the institution of marriage.

Let me give you some figures that Catholics should know and remember.  

For  example, 12% of the 300 Protestant clergy surveyed admitted to sexual intercourse with a parishioner; 

38% acknowledged other inappropriate sexual contact in a study by the United Methodist Church , 

41.8% of clergy women reported unwanted sexual behavior;  

17% of laywomen have been sexually harassed.

Meanwhile, 1.7% of the Catholic clergy has been found guilty of  pedophilia. 

10% of the Protestant ministers have been found guilty of pedophilia. This is not a Catholic Problem.

A study of American priests showed that most are happy in the priesthood and find it even better than they had expected, and that most, if given the  choice, would choose to be priests again in face of all this obnoxious PR the church has been receiving.

The Catholic Church is bleeding from self-inflicted wounds.  The agony that Catholics have felt and suffered is not necessarily the fault of  the Church.  

You have been hurt by a small number of wayward priests that have probably been totally weeded out by now.

Walk with your shoulders high and you head higher.  Be a proud member of the most important non-governmental agency in theUnited States ...

Then remember what Jeremiah said:  'Stand by the roads, and look and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is and walk in it, and find rest for your souls'.   

Be proud to speak up for your faith with pride and reverence and learn what your Church does for all other religions.

Be proud that you're a Catholic."

The above is also true in most of Europe, Africa & Asia

Does God Exist

I got this from one of the posts from my friend in Facebook. Hope you guys will appreciate it.

Professor : You are a Christian, aren't you, son ?

Student : Yes, sir.

...

...

Professor : So you Believe in GOD ?

Student : Absolutely, sir.

Professor : Is GOD Good ?

Student : Sure.

Professor : Is GOD ALL - POWERFUL ?

Student : Yes.

Professor : My Brother died of Cancer even though he Prayed to GOD to Heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But GOD didn't. How is this GOD good then? Hmm?

( Student is silent )

Professor : You can't answer, can you ? Let's start again, Young Fella. Is GOD Good?

Student : Yes.

Professor : Is Satan good ?

Student : No.

Professor : Where does Satan come from ?

Student : From . . . GOD . . .

Professor : That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this World?

Student : Yes.

Professor : Evil is everywhere, isn't it ? And GOD did make everything. Correct?

Student : Yes.

Professor : So who created evil ?

(Student does not answer)

Professor : Is there Sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the World, don't they?

Student : Yes, sir.

Professor : So, who Created them ?

( Student has no answer )

Professor : Science says you have 5 Senses you use to Identify and Observe the World around you. Tell me, son . . . Have you ever Seen GOD?

Student : No, sir.

Professor : Tell us if you have ever Heard your GOD?

Student : No , sir.

Professor : Have you ever Felt your GOD, Tasted your GOD, Smelt your GOD? Have you ever had any Sensory Perception of GOD for that matter?

Student : No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.

Professor : Yet you still Believe in HIM?

Student : Yes.

Professor : According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?

Student : Nothing. I only have my Faith.

Professor : Yes, Faith. And that is the Problem Science has.

Student : Professor, is there such a thing as Heat?

Professor : Yes.

Student : And is there such a thing as Cold?

Professor : Yes.

Student : No sir. There isn't.

( The Lecture Theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events )

Student : Sir, you can have Lots of Heat, even More Heat, Superheat, Mega Heat, White Heat, a Little Heat or No Heat... But we don't have anything called Cold. We can hit 458 Degrees below Zero which is No Heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as Cold. Cold is only a Word we use to describe the Absence of Heat. We cannot Measure Cold. Heat is Energy. Cold is Not the Opposite of Heat, sir, just the Absence of it.

( There is Pin - Drop Silence in the Lecture Theatre )

Student : What about Darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as Darkness?

Professor : Yes. What is Night if there isn't Darkness?

Student : You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the Absence of Something. You can have Low Light, Normal Light, Bright Light, Flashing Light . . . But if you have No Light constantly, you have nothing and its called Darkness, isn't it? In reality, Darkness isn't. If it is, were you would be able to make Darkness Darker, wouldn't you?

Professor : So what is the point you are making, Young Man ?

Student : Sir, my point is your Philosophical Premise is flawed.

Professor : Flawed ? Can you explain how?

Student : Sir, you are working on the Premise of Duality. You argue there is Life and then there is Death, a Good GOD and a Bad GOD. You are viewing the Concept of GOD as something finite something we can measure. Sir, Science can't even explain a Thought. It uses Electricity and Magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view Death as the Opposite of Life is to be ignorant of the fact that Death cannot exist as a Substantive Thing. Death is Not the Opposite of Life: just the Absence of it. Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your Students that they evolved from a Monkey?

Professor : If you are referring to the Natural Evolutionary Process, yes, of course, I do.

Student : Have you ever observed Evolution with your own eyes, sir?

( The Professor shakes his head with a Smile, beginning to realize where the Argument is going )

Student : Since no one has ever observed the Process of Evolution at work and Cannot even prove that this Process is an On - Going Endeavor, Are you not teaching your Opinion, sir? Are you not a Scientist but a Preacher?

( The Class is in Uproar )

Student : Is there anyone in the Class who has ever seen the Professor's Brain?

( The Class breaks out into Laughter )

Student : Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's Brain, Felt it, touched or Smelt it? . . . No one appears to have done so. So, according to the Established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says that you have No Brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then Trust your Lectures, sir?

(The Room is Silent. The Professor stares at the Student, his face unfathomable.)

Professor : I guess you'll have to take them on Faith, son.

Student : That is it sir . . . The Link between Man & GOD is FAITH. That is all that Keeps Things Moving & Alive.

NB: 

I believe you have enjoyed the Conversation . . . and if so . . . You'll probably want your Friends / Colleagues to enjoy the same . . . won't you? Forward them to Increase their Knowledge . . . or FAITH.

It turned out later that the student is Albert Einstein.

How much, in your heart, do you believe that God exists?

The Wound, the itch and the healing (Originally written July 4, 2008)

But you – why do you return to these distresses
instead of climbing that shining Mount of Joy
which is the seat and first cause of man’s bliss?
– Virgil (Canto I, verses 74-76)

I have a wound in my left leg, and it was a long one. I forgot how I got it lately. Maybe I got it somewhere where it scratched my leg.

Although the wound is healed now, there are times that I really wanted to scratch it.

That was until last night when I just can’t take it anymore. I scratched it really hard and scratched it badly, until…

Oops!

Blood came flowing out because the healed cover was removed.

Thus, instead of healing it completely by leaving it and not minding it, I created another wound which will take many days before it will heal again.

In life, we are sometimes like this. Whenever we say to ourselves, “I will stop my drinking”, or “I will never engage in premarital sex again”, or “I will control my spending so that I can save money for my marriage”, there are times that we go back to where we were before: our drinking habits, sexual escapades or spending spree.

I came to a point that I experienced this, and it was a completely bad one.

Those of you who read my blogs know that I am in a relationship at this time. However, there is this someone in my past that I haven’t got through with for a very loooooooooooooooooooong time (as in literally long time).

Yes, this is the real me, and quoting from the words of my friend whom I told every single event in my life, “You are living a double life”.

It also came to a point that I told myself that I will focus all of my energies to my girlfriend, and totally forget that girl in my past. I went outside the country to do my “recollection”, my process of letting her go. I was living a good life with my beloved and focusing my energies to her alone.

But then did I find out that I was still attached to the other girl. I noticed that I continuously “prayed” that we will see each other again. Maybe it is because of the events and the circumstances that are going on that time.

And as I continued on with my so-called “double life”, I noticed that my heart was with her and not with my girlfriend whom God had sent to me. After many talks with my friends (luckily some of them are psychologists), I came to a realization that what was lacking in me is this: commitment. It was then that I recalled one of the messages in Talk 4 of our Christian Life Program in Singles for Christ: “Repentance is not a feeling but a commitment to change your life.”

Thus, on that blessed day of May 31, 2008, full of commitment and a firm decision to end this once and for all, I went to Angeles, Pampanga alone.

No one knew where I was that day except for my parents.

On my way there, many things were going through my mind. Will I see here there? What will happen to me there? But there was just one prayer that I prayed while on the way: “Father, if ever I did something wrong, lead me to what is right. All for Your glory and honor.”

Upon arriving there, I went to a chapel to where my heart led me. Later did I found out when I arrived home that the chapel was in front of the village which that girl was living.

I wept, honestly. Part of me was telling me to hold on to her, but part of me was telling me to let her go and give my all to my beloved. It was really hard for me to do this, but I felt God’s presence with me, speaking to me and embracing me. It was then that I took a big leap of faith, not knowing what will happen to me.

I did my earnest prayer and made my promise that once and for all I will turn away from everything that hinders me from loving my beloved fully and completely. I brought out from my bag pieces of torn paper which were concert posters. One of them was for her and the other was when we were together in a concert. I prayed and threw them in the garbage.

I planned on having my confession there, but there was no available priest. I planned to have a haircut, but I don’t know where to go because it was somehow dark then and I felt that they were already closed.

When I got home, I erased her in all of my contacts. The CDs that I used to have, I kept them in a place which I know for sure that I will never see it again. I threw away and destroyed EVERY EVIDENCE. Everything was a complete format of my life, of my point of view and my love.

I was never sorry or regretted every single thing I did.

I was happy and clean. Somehow, I wanted to jump and do crazy stuffs to show how happy I am. But most of all, I saw God smiling down on me and blessing me for what I did.

Friends, if you are encountering the same problem as I was, have a full and committed promise to God to turn away from what’s hindering you from living a fantastic life with God. Just like what I did when I asked for help from my “psychologist” friends, so can you do that if you feel that you are having a hard time alone.


Note: Illustration by Gustave Dore from "The Divine Comedy: Purgatorio"

The Pencil Parable

I got this from my Mom's email.

The pencil parable

View more presentations from Ryan Estandarte.

The Two Wolves

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people:

"My son, the battle is between two "wolves" inside us all.

One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Question: Which of the two wolves do you feed the most?

The Cross

How do we see our crosses? Have we allowed our crosses to mold us to be like Christ?

Children's Letter to God

Here are some of the letters children wrote to God. Just want to share this to you

Christian Ways to Reduce Stress

I got this from my friend via email. Hope this helps us to reduce stress and be connected with God despite our busy schedule.

CHRISTIAN WAYS TO REDUCE STRESS

An Angel says, "Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice."

1. Pray

2. Go to bed on time.

3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.

4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.

5. Delegate tasks to capable others.

6. Simplify and unclutter your life.

7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)

8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.

9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.

10. Take one day at a time.

11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.

12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.

13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.

14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.

15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.

16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.

17. Get enough rest.

18. Eat right.

19. Get organized so everything has its place.

20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.

21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.

22. Every day, find time to be alone.

23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.

24. Make friends with Godly people.

25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.

26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Jesus."

27. Laugh.

28. Laugh some more!

29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.

30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).

31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).

32. Sit on your ego.

33. Talk less; listen more.

34. Slow down.

35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.

36 . Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.

GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)

Falling in Love

This is one prayer I found while deleting some of my old emails. This is for those who are ready to fall in love.

Dear God,
I am ready to see perfection in another human being.
I am ready to surrender all my thoughts of how my partner isn’t good enough.
I am ready to see the beauty in the inner core of all mankind.
If there is one person, either in my life or on their way, who would benefit from my vision of his/her loveliness, let him/her make his/her way into my arms.
May my perception of his/her beauty wash away his/her self-hatred.
May my forgiveness of his/her errors release him/her from his/her guilt.
May I learn to support, to listen, to understand.
May I learn to serve him/her in his/her quest for higher ground.
May I learn to give joy, to nurture and to share.
And most of all, may I never forget to pray for my love and help him/her pray.
Amen.
- from Illuminata

Stop the Blame Game by Bo Sanchez

Here's one reflection from Bo Sanchez which I would like to share. I got this from an email from Kerygma.

In the Garden of Eden, the Lord God asked the woman, “What is this you have done?” She replied, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”


After all these centuries, nothing much has changed. People still say, “The devil made me do it!” There are people who find the devil hiding behind every corner, tempting us, oppressing us. They like blaming demons for everything — a flat tire, a migraine, a sick child, a divorce, a loss of job, a business failure, an adulterous relationship.


But here’s the truth: the devil operates on borrowed power. Whose power? Yours. Unless you give your power to the devil, he will have no power over you. Because his power is based on lies and fear.


The more we fear him, the more power he has over us. Friend, here’s the truth: You have power over the devil. Why? Because you’re a child of God.


Chisel this on stone: Blaming the devil for our problems is useless. In fact, he likes that you blame him. By making himself bigger, he has power over your life. Instead, be courageous enough to take full responsibility for your actions. And by your courage to take charge, you will free yourself — and others as well.

Knots Prayer

As I was clearing my inbox, I found this prayer which I would like to share to you. This was sent by a friend of mine a year ago.

The Pacifier

Here's one video clip that was showed during the SFC International Conference last Feb. 18-20. This video says it all.

Do you have pacifiers in your life that you need to let go?

One Smart Doctor

Here's one story that I would like to share to you regarding the current situation in the Philippines about the RH Bill. People only recognize life as those who are born but we fail to recognize that even a zygote has life in it.

A worried woman went to her gynecologist and said:

"Doctor, I have a serious problem and desperately need your help! My baby is not even 1 year old and I'm pregnant again. I don't want kids so close together."

So the doctor said: "Ok and what do you want me to do?"

She said: "I want you to end my pregnancy, and I'm counting on your help with this."

The doctor thought for a little, and after some silence he said to the lady: "I think I have a better solution for your problem. It's less dangerous for you too."

She smiled, thinking that the doctor was going to accept her request.

Then he continued: "You see, in order for you not to have to take care 2 babies at the same time, let's kill the one in your arms. This way, you could rest some before the other one is born. If we're going to kill one of them, it doesn't matter which one it is. There would be no risk for your body if you chose the one in your arms."

The lady was horrified and said: "No doctor! How terrible! It's a crime to kill a child!"

"I agree", the doctor replied. "But you seemed to be OK with it, so I thought maybe that was the best solution."

The doctor smiled, realizing that he had made his point.

He convinced the mom that there is no difference in killing a child that's already been born and one that's still in the womb.

The crime is the same!

A Father's Prayer by Douglas MacArthur

We all know General Douglas MacArthur's impact in the history of the Philippines, how he said his famous words "I shall return..."

But didn't you know that he had a prayer for his son? Below is his prayer.

Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.

Build me a son whose wishbone will not be where his backbone should be; a son who will know Thee….Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail.

Build me a son whose heart will be clean, whose goal will be high; a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men; one who will learn to laugh, yet never forget how to weep; one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past.

And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, the meekness of true strength.

Then I, his father, will dare to whisper, “I have not lived in vain.” 

Facebook Prayer

Amid the rampant scandals and tragedies that are happening because of technology, especially in Facebook, I found this prayer from Father Stephen Cuyos Facebook page.

I hope you guys pray this.

The Musician's Prayer

O Lord, please bless this music that it might glorify Your name.

May the talent that You have bestowed upon me be used only to serve You.

Let this music be a witness to Your majesty and love, and remind us that You are always watching, and listening, from Your throne above.

May Your presence and beauty be found in every note, may the words that are sung reach the hearts of Your people so they will draw closer to You.

May Your Spirit guide us through every measure so that we might be the instruments of Your peace, and proclaim Your glory with glad voices.

Amen.

(Note: Got this from a note in one of my friends in facebook)

The last words of Alexander the Great

I got this email from a friend of mine and it made me realize a lot of things. I hope that this will help you too in reflecting certain things, especially in terms of life here on earth.

"Ice melts when heated"
"Eyes melt when hated"


Alexander, after conquering many kingdoms, was returning home. On the way, he fell ill and it took him to his death bed. With death staring him in his face, Alexander realized how his conquests, his great army, his sharp sword and all his wealth were of no consequence. He now longed to reach home to see his mother's face and bid her his last adieu. But, he had to accept the fact that his sinking health would not permit him to reach his distant homeland. So, the mighty conqueror lay prostrate and pale, helplessly waiting to breathe his last.


He called his generals and said, "I will depart from this world soon, I have three wishes, please carry them out without fail."


With tears flowing down their cheeks, the generals agreed to abide by their king's last wishes.


"My first desire is that", said Alexander, "My physicians alone must carry my coffin." After a pause, he continued, "Secondly, I desire that when my coffin is being carried to the grave, the path leading to the graveyard be strewn with gold, silver and precious stones which I have collected in my treasury".


The king felt exhausted after saying this. He took a minute's rest and continued. "My third and last wish is that both my hands be kept dangling out of my coffin".


The people who had gathered there wondered at the king's strange wishes. But no one dared bring the question to their lips.. Alexander's favorite general kissed his hand and pressed them to his heart. "O king, we assure you that your wishes will all be fulfilled. But tell us why do you make such strange wishes?"


At this Alexander took a deep breath and said: "I would like the world to know of the three lessons I have just learnt.


Lessons to learn from last 3 wishes of King Alexander...


I want my physicians to carry my coffin because people should realize that no doctor can really cure any body. They are powerless and cannot save a person from the clutches of death. So let not people take life for granted.


The second wish of strewing gold, silver and other riches on the way to the graveyard is to tell People that not even a fraction of gold will come with me. I spent all my life earning riches but cannot take anything with me. Let people realize that it is a sheer waste of time to chase wealth.


And about my third wish of having my hands dangling out of the coffin, I wish people to know that I came empty handed into this world and empty handed I go out of this world".


With these words, the king closed his eyes. Soon he let death conquer him and breathed his last. . . .


LESSONS TO LEARN:


Remember, your good health is in your own hands, look after it.


Wealth is only meaningful if you can enjoy while you are still alive and kicking.


What you do for yourself dies with you but what you do for others, lives on.


It is called "Legacy."